Attachment for electric-lamp-socket keys.



A. H. SIMMONS.

ATTACHMENT FOR ELECTRIC LAMP SOCKET KEYS.

APPLICATION man MAR. 22, 1916.

L 2 %,27& Patented May a, 1917.

|- mi lllllml 36 mvrrnn snares rarnn'r onnren ALBERT H. SIMMONS, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-THIRD TO PAUL B. ASCII, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

ATTACHMENT FOR ELECTRIC-LAMP-SOCKET KEYS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May S, 1917..

Application filed March 22, 1916. Serial No. 85,757.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, ALBERT H. SIMMoNs, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Attachments for Electric-Lamp-Socket Keys, of which the following is a specification.

My invention pertains to features of novelty and improvement in operating devices in general, but concerns more particularly cord-actuated attachments for electric lamp socket keys, whereby, the light may be turned off and on, that is, the electric switch operated, merely by the manipulation of the cord or chain, rather than directly by the socket key itself.

It is old in the art to manufacture electric lamp sockets and switches with chain or cord operated mechanisms incorporated in the structures themselves. It is, how ever, owing to the inaccessible positions of the lamps, desirable in many instances to actuate the switch of the usual key equipped socket without reaching to that height. Consequently, one object of the present invention is to provide a simple structure adapted to be applied or clamped to the key or handle of an ordinary electric lamp socket so that it may be operated by means of a cord or chain. It is to be understood, however, that the use of the appliance is not limited to electric switches, since it is applicable for advantageous employment in many other relations. The main object of this invention is the provision of a device of this general character which can be readily attached to the keys of electric lamp sockets with facility and despatch, and which may be operated with ease and convenience and without undue reaching.

A further feature of the invention is the production of a device of this kind which is simple in structure, which embodies but few parts, which is economical to manufacture, and which is unlikely to become deranged or damaged in service.

An additional purpose of the invention is the provision of an appliance of this general character which will not interfere with the proper actuation of the electric switch of the socket, and which will be approved by the Board of Underwriters having such appliances in charge.

In order that those skilled in this art may have a full and complete understanding of the invention and its advantages, I have illustrated in the accompanying drawing a preferred embodiment of the same and in these drawings, throughout their various views, like reference characters refer to the same parts.

This invention is, of course, susceptible of a variety of embodiments, but the one presented in these drawings represents a suitable way of incorporating the invention in convenient form.

In this drawing:

Figure 1 is a side view of the improved appliance attached to the key of an electric lamp socket, the key and socket being illustrated in dotted lines;

F 2 is a view of the reverse side of the appliance on an enlarged scale;

Fig. 3 is a vertical section on line 3-3 of Fig. 2, the parts being viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged horizontal section on line 44: of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a face view of the ratchet main main member, and

Fig. 6 is a face view of the operating member and its associated pawl and weight.

Referring to the drawings, it will be observed that the appliance includes a mainbody 10, in the form of a ratchet-wheel, centrally apertured at 11 for the accommodation of the electric lamp socket key 12. This body 10 at opposite sides of the aperture 11 is supplied with recesses or cavities 13 and 14-, each adapted to receive and guide the shank or plate portion of a hook-shaped clamping member provided for the purpose of clamping or engaging the lamp socket key, in this way fastening the body to the key. The inner one of these clamping members 15 has its hook portion bifurcated to provide two bent or hook-shaped parts 16 and 17 adapted to straddle the stem 18 of the key 12 and hook over the inner edge of the key as is clearly shown in Fig. 3. The shank or plate portion 19 of this hook member 15 is accommodated in the guiding cavity or recess 14, projecting outwardly through the same, as is shown in Fig. 3. At its inner end the part 19 has an upstanding screw-threaded reinforced car 20 in register with an unthreaded opening 21 extended through the member 10. Such hook or clamping member 15 is fastened to the mainbody 10 by means of a screw 22 accommodated in the hole 21 of the main-body and engaging the screw-threaded passage in the ear 20. At its outer end, as is indicated in Fig. 1, the plateportion 19 of the hook member 15 is cut away at 23 for the accommodation of the screw-head.

The appliance also includes a second clamping member 24 the hook portion 25 of which is adapted to fit over and engage the outer edge of the socket-key 12, and, as in the previous instance, the plate-portion or stem 26 of the member 24 is received and guided in the aperture or recess 13 of the body 10, and at its outer end the part 26 is provided with an apertured ear 27 through which an attaching and adjusting screw 28 extends, the threaded portion of the screw cooperating with a threaded aperture 29 in the main-body 10.

It will be observed, therefore, that the appliance is equipped with two clamping or hook members adapted to fit over. the opposite edges of the lamp socket key, and that these securing members are adjustable or eXpansible by means of their screws to accommodate keys of different sizes. It should, furthermore, be noted that the heads of both screws 22 and 28 are on the outer side of the appliance so that the screws may be manipulated with facility.

In applying this main-body 10 to a lamp socket key, the screw 22 is either backed away sufficiently to permit the hooks 16 and 17 to be fitted over the inner edge of the key, whereupon the tightening of screw 22 secures the hook members in place properly attached to the key, or the member 15 and screw may be entirely separated from the main-body for application to the key, Whereupon insertion and tightening of the screw properly clamps the parts together. Obviously, the adjustment of the other hook member 24 to the opposite edge of the key may be effected by manipulation of its securing screw 28.

At its inner side, the member 10 is pro vided with a ratchet portion 30 adjacent to which is a central cylindrical bearing 31 of smaller diameter, and outside of this bearing portion the hub 32 is of slightly less diameter.

An operating member 33, (Fig. 6), is mounted to oscillate on the bearing 31, this operating or actuating member being in the form of a ring provided on its inner surface with a plurality of cavities 34 each adapted to accommodate an anti-friction ball 35 of greater diameter than thethickness of the member 33. As is shown in Fig. 4, these balls bear on the cylindrical surface 31, on the outer face of the ratchet portion of the main-body, and also against a retaining ring 36, frictionally held on the hub-portion 32 of the body. By means of these balls, a suitable anti-friction bearing is provided for the operating member on the main-body, as will be readily understood. At 37, a weight 38 is pivoted to the actuating member 33, and above this, on a suitable car at 39 a pawl 40 is pivoted to the operating member, such pawl having a tooth 41 adapted to cooperate with the teeth of the ratchet 30, an oppositely-extended weight portion 42 operating to normally retract the pawl away from the ratchet, and an apertured upstanding arm 43 to which is attached a cord, cable, or chain 44, passing through a guiding eye in an arm 45 forming a part of the member 33.

Assuming that the main-body or member 10 and its associated parts have been affixed to the lamp socket key in the manner indicated, and that the hook members have been expanded or adjusted for the proper accommodation of the key, the actuation of the device occurs substantially as follows: Upon a downward pull of the cord 44, the normally retracted pawl 40 is rocked on its pivot 39 so as to bring its tooth 41 into engagement with the teeth of the ratchet 40, whereupon continued pull on the cord rocks the operating member and the main-body member with it, the two being temporarily locked together by the pawl and ratchet. This action, of course, turns the key and operates the electric switch of the lamp socket. Upon release of the cord, the operating member and pawl return to normal position under the action of the weight 38, and the pawl is brought to retracted position out of contact with the ratchet by reason of the operation of its individual weight 42.

When the cord is again pulled, the key will be turned another step and the switch either closed or opened, as the case may be. the parts automatically returning to normal position upon release of the cord.

The location of arm 45 is such that a straight downward pull upon the cord 44 turns the main-body and key of the lamp socket a proper amount for manipulation of the electric switch. The device requires no other stop for limiting the amount of movement, the direction of pull on the cord determining this.

It will be observed, furthermore, that the device incorporates no spring likely to become detached or broken, reliance being placed upon the surer action of the Weight I referred to, which, coupled with the antifriction bearing, described, assures an efliclent operation of the appliance.

Wh1le in this application one desirable fss embodiment of the invention has been set forth in detail, it is to be remembered that the invention is susceptible of a variety of embodiments differing more or less from that set forth herein, without departure from the substance and essence of the invention and without the sacrifice of any of its substantial benefits and advantages. Stated somewhat otherwise, many minor mechanical changes may be made in the appliance set forth in this application without deviating from the essential features of the invention.

I claim:

1. In an appliance of the character described adapted for the operation of and attachment to the key of an electric lamp socket or the like, the combination of a ratchet mainbody, means to fasten said body to the key, an operating-member oscillatory on said ratchet main-body, a pawl on said member adapted to cooperate with said ratchet and normally retracted therefrom, a cord secured to said pawl adapted to rock the member from its normal position and pull the pawl into operative engagement with said ratchet, whereby said main-body and key are turned, and means to return said operating-member to normal position upon release of the cord, substantially as described.

2. In an appliance of the character described adapted for the operation of and attachment to the key of an electric lamp socket or the like, the combination of a main-body, means to fasten said main-body to the key, an operating-member oscillatory on said main-body, a guide on said operating-member, means to lock said member and body together when the operating-member is rocked in one direction and permitting the operating-member to return to normal position without actuating said main-body, a cord cooperating with said guide and secured to said locking-means, whereby a pull upon the cord actuates said operatingmember, locking-means, main-body, and key, and means to return said operating-member to normal position upon release of the cord, substantially as described.

3. In an appliance of the character described adapted for the operation of and attachment to the key of an electric lamp socket or the like, the combination of a ratchet main-body, means to fasten said body to the key, an operating-member oscillatory on said main-body, a pawl on said member adapted to cooperate with said ratchet and normally retracted therefrom, a guide on said operatingmember, a cord secured to said pawl and cooperating with said guide, and adapted to rock the member from its normal position and pull the pawl into operative engagement with said ratchet, whereby said body and key are turned, and

means to return said member to normal position upon release of the cord, substantially as described.

4. In an appliance of the character described adapted for the operation of and attachment to the key of an electric lamp socket or the like, the combination of a ratchet main-body, means to fasten said body to the key, an operating-member oscillatory on said main-body, a weighted pawl on said member adapted to cooperate with said ratchet and normally retracted therefrom by said weight, a guide on said operating-member, a cord secured to said pawl cooperating with said guide, and

adapted to rock the member from its normal position and pull the pawl into operative engagement with said ratchet, whereby said main-body and key are turned, and a weight pivoted to said operating-member adapted to return said member to normal position upon release of the cord, substantially as described.

5. In an appliance of the character de scribed adapted for the operation of and attachment to the key of an electric lamp socket or the like, the combination of a main-body, means to fasten said main-body to the key of the lamp-socket, including a clamping-member having a divergent hook-portion adapted to engage over an edge of the key and adjustable toward and from said edge in the plane of the key, an operating-member oscillatory on said mainbody, a cord to actuate said operatingmember, means between said operatingmember and said main-body adapted to shift the body and key with the operatingmember when the latter is swung in one direction from its normal position and to permit the operating-member to return to normal position without shifting said body and key, and means to return said operating-member to its normal position, substantially as described.

6. In an appliance of the character described adapted for the operation of and attachment to the key of an electric-lamp socket or the like, the combination of a main-body, means to fasten said main-body to the key of the lamp-socket including a clamping-member having a bifurcated divergent hook-portion adapted to straddle the stem of the key and engage over the inner-edge of the key and adjustable toward and from said edge in the plane of the key, an operating-member oscillatory on said main-body, a cord to actuate said operating member, means between said operating-member and main-body adapted to shift the main-body and key with the operating-member when the latter is swung in one direction from its normal position and to permit the member to return to normal position without shifting said body,

and means to return said member to its normal position, substantially as described.

7. In an appliance of the character described adapted for the operation of and attachment to the key of an electric lamp socket or the like, the combination of an apertured main-body, a clampingmember guided and adjustable in said aperture and having a hook-portion adapted to grasp the key, a screw securing said hook-member adjustably to said mainbody, an operating member oscillatory on said main-body, a cord to actuate said operating-member, means between said operating-member and main-body adapted to shift the body and key with the operating-member when the latter is swung in one direction from its normal position and to permit the operating-member to return to normal position without shifting said body, and means to return said member to its normal position, substantially as described.

8. In an appliance of the character described adapted for the operation of and attachment to the key of an electric lamp socket or the like, the combination of a mainbody, a pair of reversely-arranged hookshaped clamping-members adapted to engage the opposite edges of the key, means adjustably securing said clamping-members to said main-body, an operating-member oscillatory on said main-body, a cord to actuate said operating-member, means between said operating-member and main-body adapted to shift the main-body and key with the operating-member when the latter is swung in one direction from its normal position and to permit theoperating-member to return to normal position without shifting said main-body, and means to return said operating-member to its normal position, substantially as described.

9. In an applianceof the character described adapted for the operation of and attachment to the key of an electric lamp socket or the like, the combination of a main-.

body, a pair of reversely-arranged hookshaped clamping-members adapted to fit over the opposite edges of the key, a screw adjustably securing each of said clampingmembers to said main-body, the heads of said screws being on the same side of said main-body, an operating-member oscillatory on said main-body, a cord to actuate said operatingmember, means between said operating-member and main-body adapted to shift said main-body and key with the operating-member when the latter is swung in one direction from its normal position and to permit the operating-member to return to normal position without shifting said body and key, and means to return said operating member to its normal position substantially as described.

10. In an appliance of the character described adapted for the operation of and attachment to the key of an electric lamp socket or the like, the combination of a mainbody, means to fasten said main-body to the key, an operating-member in the form of a ring adapted to rock on said main-body, said operating-member having a plurality of recesses in its inner surface, an anti-friction ball in each of said recesses, a retainer on said mainbody, each of said balls bearing at two points on said main-body and at another point on said retainer, a cord to actuate said operating-member, means between said operating-member and main-body adapted to shift said main-body and key with the operating-member when the latter is rocked in one direction from its normal position and to permit the member to return to normal position without shifting said body, and means to return said operating-member to its normal position, substantially as described.

11. In an appliance of the character described adapted for the operation of and attachment to the key of an electric lamp socket or the like, the combination of a ratchet main-body, a pair of reversely-arranged hook-shaped clamping-members adapted to fit over the opposite edges of the key, a screw adj ustably securing each of said clamping-members to said mainbody, the heads of said screws being on the same side of said main-body, an operating-member oscillatory on said main-body, a pawl on said operating-member adapted to cooperate with said ratchet and normally retracted therefrom, a guide on said operating-member, a cord secured to said pawl and cooperating with said guide and adapted to rock the operating-member from its normal po sition and pull the pawl into operative en- ;gagement with said ratchet, whereby said body and key are turned, and means to return said operatingmember to normal position upon release of the cord, substantially as described.

12. In an appliance of the character described adapted for the operation of and attachment to the key of an electric lamp socket or the like, the combination of a ratchet main-body, a pair of reVersely-arranged hook-shaped clamping-members adapted to fit over the opposite edges of the key of the socket, a screw adjustably securing each of said clamping-members to said main-body, theheads of said screws being on the same side of said main-body, an operating-member in the form of a ring adapted to rock on said main-body, said operatingmember having a plurality of recesses in its inner surface, an anti-friction ball in each of said recesses, a retainer on said mainbody, each of such balls bearing at two points on said main-body and at another point on saidretainer, a weighted pawl on ii F said member adapted to cooperate with said ratchet and normally retracted therefrom by said weight, aguide on said operating member a cord secured to said pawl cooperating with said guide and adapted to rock the operating-member from its normal position and pull the pawl into operative engagement with said ratchet, whereby said main-body and key are turned, and a weight secured to said operatingmember adapted to return said member to normal position upon release of the cord, substantially as described.

Signed at Chicago county of Cook State of Illinois this 18 day of March A. D. 1916.

ALBERT H. SIMMONS.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Eatents,

Washington, D. G. e 

